Ceantar na nOileán
Archaeological Field Trip led by Michael Gibbons, Walking Ireland
Walk/Tour
Tuesday 30 September 2025, 9.00 – 17.00
Tickets: Adult €35, Senior/Student €25
Lunch not Included
Booking via Eventbrite
Bus Departs from Galway Cathedral Gaol Rd bus stop.
Lunch Stop: The field trip will include a lunch/coffee stop at Ionad Oidhreachta Leitir Mealláin, including a site visit and talk from a staff member.
Itinerary and Highlights
Ceantar na nOileán is an archipelago of fifteen islands connected by nine causeways, many now uninhabited, stretching from Béal an Daingin to Leitir Mealláin. The field trip offers an exploration of the area’s unique intertidal zone archaeology. The main islands are linked by a series of causeways built throughout the nineteenth century, each reflecting efforts to integrate this remote region into the broader Victorian society and economy.
Architectural Highlights
The nine causeways represent remarkable achievements in architecture and marine engineering, having replaced earlier networks of vernacular sub-sea crossings. Droichead an Daingin stands as one of the most impressive, connecting the mainland to Eanach Mhéaid. Adjacent to this is an older stone causeway, visible only at low tide, which marks one of the busiest quays on the islands. These hidden feats of architecture have been essential to the way of life and development in Ceantar na nOileán.
Culture and Spirituality
In addition to the built causeways, the area features a fascinating magico-religious landscape, centred around the unseen Sub-Sea Saints’ Roads, holy wells, and stone boats.